A good number of deadly cancers are not known to many
Nigerian men. Some of these cancers do not kill in high numbers, but
when someone is affected, they become a terminal disease.
A terminal disease is a disease in which if an individual contacts,
he should be ready for his eventual death at any moment onward.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria has the
highest rate of cancer in Africa, with the figure possibly reaching
about 13 million in 2030. Every year, 10,000 Nigerians die as a result
of cancer-related deaths, while 250,000 new cases of cancer are recorded
annually.
The list of deadly cancers common among Nigerian men include:
leukaemia (white blood cells cancers), lung, colorectal (colon), liver,
prostrate, throat, among the rest. However, the three top cancers are:
prostrate, liver and colon1. Prostrate

In a research work published in Pan African Medical Journal in August
10, 2013, a study carried out in Lagos to find out the rate at which
men are affected with prostrate cancer revealed there was a high
prevalence of prostate cancer in the community of Lagos, which was much
higher than the previously known figure.
Majority of the men examined already have advanced and high grade cancers and did not even seek for medical treatment.
In addition, there are so many men who are suffering from prostrate
cancer, but are dying in silence. Prostrate cancer when it affects a man
leads to a situation, whereby it could be difficult for the affected
man to pass out urine or perform $exual activities.2. Liver
Liver cancer just like all other cancers is very lethal. It kills gradually.
One big challenge of liver cancer is that it is a metastasis. That
is, it is a cancer which spreads to other regions of the body, apart
from where it starts. This means if a man has liver cancer, the cancer
will spread to other vital organs in his body.
Liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver before it becomes a
malignant tumour. Men who come up with this type of cancer hardly
survive it.3. Colorectal
Colorectal cancer is also called colon cancer.
Every year, the month ofMarch is used to mark the colon cancer awareness month (commonly called colon cancer awareness month).
Most Nigerians are not aware of colon cancer; yet it is one of the
commonest cancers, globally. Colon cancer is the third most common
cancer in Nigerian men (after prostate and liver cancer).
According to the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP)
in Nigeria, every two hours, a Nigerian is diagnosed of colon cancer.
About 80% of all Nigerians who are diagnosed of colon cancer die from
it. This is sad and very unfortunate; given the fact that colon cancer
is one of the cancers that is virtually 100% preventable.
The colon and rectum (in our local language are called abodi, afoanu
etc). They are the last part of the digestive system. Rectum helps
absorb water and salt from the food matter to form faeces or stool that
then passes out from the body.
The colon is a muscular tube about five feet long while the rectum.
It is the final six inches of the digestive system, where faeces is
stored until it passes out of the body through the anus.
Most colon cancers develop slowly, over 10 to 15 years. It usually begins as a small non-cancerous growth, called polypon the inner lining of the colon or rectum.
It should be noted that so many factors trigger abnormal
proliferation of cells, which is known as cancer. These factors include:
exposure to radiation, some food, unhealthy lifestyle, heredity, and
other carcinogenic substances.